President Obama, speaking to a crowd of hand-picked guests in Denver Wednesday at Cheesman Park, touted gains made in the economy following the recession that challenged the start of his presidency. “We have come farther and recovered faster than almost any other advanced country on Earth,” the president said. Obama continued his populist message, telling guests: “I’m here for every American who works their tail off and does everything right and who believes in the American dream and asks for nothing but a decent chance in life for themselves and their families.” He said: “I’m here to say I hear you. And sometimes it’s as simple as that — that I’m listening and paying attention. … I see myself in folks, because I remember my first minimum wage job — at Baskin Robbins by the way, wearing a cap and an apron — and how a little raise would have helped.

“I think about what it was like for me to finance college and child care costs. … Your stories are ours. You’re why I ran. What I want to make sure of is, as screwed up as Washington gets, that everyone here understands that there is progress to be made and that there’s someone fighting for them.” Dooley, who dined with president on Tuesday, said she believed his message was one that harkened back to his 2008 campaign. “He talked about hope and change then,” said Dooley. “And though he inherited a bad economy it’s now changing and more opportunities are coming about. His message of raising the minimum wage helped my boss realize it was important.”

Alex Dooley of Denver, who had written to President Barack Obama thanking him for talking about raising the minimum wage and her boss doing so, introduces the president before he spoke about the economy